Sucker Punch confirms the Ghost series will always stay rooted in Japan, while star Erika Ishii shares how she brought new protagonist Atsu to life. Read on to learn what defines the series and what else they talked about during the Tokyo Game Show.
Ghost of Yotei Stays True to Its Samurai Roots On and Off the Screen
Katana and Japan Are the Core Identity of the Series
Sucker Punch studio head Brian Fleming recently spoke with UnGeek about Ghost of Yotei and the overall direction of the series. In the interview, Fleming stressed that the franchise’s identity is inseparable from its Japanese roots. According to him, a Ghost game only works when it centers on a katana-wielding warrior set against the backdrop of Japan’s history and landscapes. "We can’t imagine a Ghost game set in, say, feudal Europe. That doesn’t make sense. There are plenty of games set there, but that’s not what a Ghost game is," Fleming explained.
While other franchises like Assassin’s Creed have reinvented themselves by jumping between cultures and time periods, Fleming said that isn’t the path for Ghost. For him, the series simply wouldn’t make sense outside Japan—something he summed up by saying that samurai, katanas, and Japan’s natural beauty form the essence of what makes a Ghost game.
Core Pillars Behind Ghost of Yotei
Fleming made it clear that what defines Ghost is not just its mythic storytelling but a specific set of pillars: the katana, Japan’s history, and a vast open world that highlights the country’s beauty. These elements, he explained, are what set the series apart and will continue to guide its direction.
Fleming even noted that at the Tokyo Game Show, Japanese fans responded strongly when he emphasized the role of Japan’s landscapes as part of the series’ DNA. To him, Ghost will always be an open-world samurai adventure rooted in the country’s culture, even if future entries experiment with different eras or characters.
Ghost of Yotei already proves the studio is willing to jump forward in history and introduce new protagonists. But Fleming suggested there are limits the team won’t cross—such as abandoning the katana or stepping outside Japan. This points to future titles likely staying within the broad sweep of the Heian to Edo periods, a thousand-year span rich with conflict and transformation.
Erika Ishii on Becoming the New Ghost
That focus on Japanese tradition isn’t just shaping the world of Ghost of Yotei—it’s also reflected in the performance of Erika Ishii, who plays the new protagonist Atsu. For Ishii, best known for roles in Apex Legends and Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the role goes far beyond voice work. They also served as the face and motion-capture performer, making Atsu one of the most personal and involved characters of their career.
Unlike typical game voice-acting jobs, where actors record lines in isolation, Ishii was embedded throughout the production. During the Tokyo Game Show, Ishii interviewed with UnGeek, where they described the process as deeply collaborative, allowing them to shape everything from Atsu’s physicality to their emotional range. Even when scenes demanded heavy moments of grief and anger, Ishii said the support of the team turned the work into an uplifting and memorable experience rather than an exhausting one.
Preparation for the role drew heavily from Ishii’s own love of samurai cinema and anime. Having grown up on Kurosawa films, jidaigeki dramas, and even shows like Samurai Champloo, they saw Atsu as a continuation of that tradition. This lifelong familiarity with samurai archetypes and storytelling gave them the tools to ground Atsu’s journey while also putting a personal stamp on the character.
Of course, stepping into the mantle of the Ghost after the widely beloved Jin Sakai came with pressure. Ishii admitted that the first days on set felt daunting, not only because of fan expectations but also because of their own admiration for Sony’s legacy of games. Still, those nerves quickly gave way to comfort, with the production crew creating an environment where Ishii could settle into the role.
For Ishii, Atsu represents more than just another character in their portfolio—it’s a chance to embody a hero shaped by the same stories that inspired them growing up. Just as Fleming described the series’ foundation as inseparable from Japan and the katana, Ishii’s performance shows how that identity carries through at the character level, blending authenticity with personal passion.
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Sucker Punch studio head on the Ghost of Yotei series’ identity: ‘We can’t imagine a Ghost game in Feudal Europe’
Interview: Ghost of Yotei star Erika Ishii says she ‘felt so supported’ playing the new protagonist Atsu
